the new red sofa

We are getting used to this and so far, so good. I found a very old Cats
(the musical) tee shirt for Herself and I am sitting on the new purchase
currently. After all these years I don't really have faith in my taste because
I was used to working with Bill on household stuff. But as the Blogmaid
wisely said, "If you don't like it, get another one." I like it. We like it.

the last lost red sofa in SF

Bill would love this story because he appreciated immigrants and he
was crazy about living in crazy SF. Our ex-sofa ended up in North
Beach near Marsha's home. Not planned. When she went out to check
on it yesterday morning this young man was scrubbing it thoroughly,
even the springs. It was dirty and Annabelle's fur was (ahem) attached.
Marsha said it looked terrific and this hard-working guy was excited
to take it to his SRO at Hyde and Geary. He was going to push this
heavy thing on the dolly up and over the hills to its forever home. The
Blogmaid thinks Linda D. should do a kid book about the red sofa as
it travels throughout our city. I'm just so pleased that someone new will
treat it well for a few years. The red sofa lives!

this agnostic goes to church

my church socks

the two ministers

the music director

Don't worry, it didn't take. Carlini is a Unity minister and he asked that
I go to the 100 year celebration of the SF church and I did and it was
fun and we were introduced to their brand new space at a remodeled
church down on Page Street. Unity is really a fine religion which
believes in and practices people today and not old doctrines. There is
a lot of singing and smiling, little God talk and no Jesus. I did love the
diversity and positive vibes and I might even return.

Presdio, incarceration and shame

SF Presidio - outside

Inside 

Kimono deconstructed

Pack'em all up, they could be spies

Yesterday I met Pat, Neti and Sandy for the Presidio Tour at 11am. Great
history lesson about this unusual outpost first founded by Mexicans. Then
we went to TWO exhibits focusing on the unbelievable fact that the U.S.
Federal government rounded up Japanese (American citizens!) and sent
them to camps during W.W. II. Then They Came For Me is the title. We
all need to be reminded what can happen to innocent people when fear
dominates our lives. Do not miss this powerful exhibit.

the old red sofa

Many memories here. I learned in grief group to take a photo of things we
have trouble parting with. This is an uncomfortable sleeper couch that we
had for years. Bill sat near the window and I parked in the other corner for
about twenty years, maybe more. Now we use the air mattress for overnight
guests and it is better and easier. So this is going away this weekend and
a new beige love seat arrives Tuesday. Mixed emotions, as per usual.

humor from the old orange desk

Bill wasn't a joke teller (thank God), but he loved words and word play.
From a note:
. We can now put Berlin on the back burner of Cold War hot spots.
From a magazine:
. Death is life's answer to the question "Why?"
. Even a doctor can laugh ~ Yiddish
. The dog who bites you may have his reasons.
. Not every first born becomes king.

a day in the sun

Wowza, it was hot yesterday. Our Giants have been on a huge Win streak
but alas, we lost while Ginger and I sweltered at the yard. I sat next to a
delightful young vacationing couple from Scotland who said that L.A.
was a disappointment but the moment they hit SF it was "just like in the
movies" and they loved it here. We have not lost our magic, it appears.

it's a busy day

Of course we are ALL watching Director Mueller today. And then I go
to the Giants game. Plus I'm writing and commenting on my partner
Suzy's piece AND I have a girl cat who needs attention from time to
time. Too busy to attack the stacks of crap from the orange desk. Damn.
I do, however, understand why 1-800-JUNK is so popular.

watts new?

I'm starting to research solar power for my little home in foggy SF.
At this stage I'm getting good advice from friends who already have
their solar panels and I had a great sales pitch from two young women
who represent Solar Union, but there are many options and lots to learn.

still hating this

We both thought we were pretty damn good for going to the Salvation Army
every six months. However we neglected to think about all the papers and
photos and crap we have accumulatd here. I wonder if we had moved in the
last 40 years? Then I hear of folks who just box it up and take it all to the new
home. Lately I've been working on the old orange (bright orange, another
temporary piece of furniture that we bought 2nd or 3rd hand and kept forever)
desk in the foyer. Once in awhile a letter or memory will bring a smile to
my face, other times it's more like "Who the hell is Sandra Johanssen and
why did we save this dumb birthday card?"

I no longer need the solitude of my office since I have the entire house
so I use it as a dumpster now. Someone said that in other cultures (Norway?
Sweden?) the oldsters are expected to get rid of their accumulations once
they reach a certain age. It should be fifty. Here we wait to "downsize"
when we move into "assisted living". I ain't going nowhere but I don't
want to leave this mess for others to paw through. Plus I like tidy.

Is it me? Most of these memories don't really warm my heart. More love
notes from Bill to remind me how funny he was when love was new. Will
I ever finish this tedious project? File this under grrrrrrrrr.

when Tiapos gathers

We had such a nice full day yesterday and I completely neglected my
camera duties. Too busy eating and talking/laughing. Oh, yes, we read
and commented on each others' writing too. Lovely, languid afternoon
in the warmth of a patio in Concord where I basked in this fellowship.
My tribe.

an East Bay day in the sun

Alexa tells me that it will be 80 degrees in Concord today. I call that hot.
Tiapos is meeting at Eric's new (to us) home out there.  The piece I am
taking needs lots of work and so I will rip it apart and add all the
words and explanations that Husbando used to help me with. "What
does this mean?" he would scribble and I would bristle and then
accept that he was right and hunker down to fix my words that I
thought were perfect. Get to work, Msmas.

friends, art and lunch

Warhol's Silver Cloud room

Silver Cloud kid fun

Triple Elvis, 1963

The JR Chronicles of San Francisco, 2019

I met Mary and John at SF Moma for the Andy Warhol exhibit. A lovely
morning for sure. Then we "did" the Salesforce Park where they had
not been yet. Lunch at Perry's where I gave them a letter they wrote to
us in 1974, when they moved to NYC. Overwhelming for the three of
us. "I think it's the last letter I ever wrote," John said. He and Husbando
had a terrific friendship and we all love Mary too. When you hit Moma
don't miss the huge interactive JR wall on the first floor ~ the Chronicles
of San Francisco. Amazing. And Warhol? Many old favorites and some
new (to me) surprises too. Well done, Moma!

and Alexa makes three

Pretty, isn't she? I bought her during Prime Days for a grand total of
$13 because I had a Whole Foods Coupon. Of course the smooth-and-
easy-setup took about six hours, but I persevered. Every morning I
ask her about the weather, she answers promptly and then she plays
music for me. Mostly classical and then the entire Hamilton album.
I'm happy but her voice always startles Annabelle.

and home by noon

Yesterday Neighbor Heidi and I went out to the deYoung to see the Ed
Hardy tattoo exhibit which was very well done. Then it's time for the yearly
Pianos in the Park so we hopped over to the Botanical Gardens and
enjoyed our walk there. When Husbando was alive we never seemed to have
time or that much interest in our neighbors, other than watching their kids
grow and discussing cars, etc., but everything changes and getting to
know Heidi and her family this past year has been quite wonderful for me.

big little season two

Superb Meryl Streep joined the cast this year as the evil mother-in-law
and I've enjoyed Big Little Lies immensely this go-round. All sorts of
twists and turns in such a beautiful setting, but I guess Carmel and
Monterey are overrun with tourists currently. I don't think this HBO
show is helping that problem, probably just the opposite. Actually
acute tourism is causing problems all over the world, but I prefer not
to think about that right now.

outdoor art festival

Marsha knows and loves all sorts of art and yesterday we went to the
Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival and it was very, very nice. Great
weather as you can see and laid back artists who seemed happy just
to chat about their work. Even though we both loathe shopping and
malls, we had lunch outside at Tartine's in the Stanford Mall which
was a surprisingly pleasant experience.

365 days, 1.87 kilograms

It's our one year anniversary and my Annabelle celebrated with
a roll of TP to prove to me that she hasn't changed one bit. The
cat diets I keep attempting seem to enhance her, but my girl
has a lot of energy (we play Mouse twice a day) and she still
faithfully greets me when I return home from wherever. I do
not know how other widows and widowers do this without
a furry companion ~ today I salute Annabelle, with love. Purr.

jazz Columbian style

The great Great Plotniks swooped me up and took me to the SF Jazz Center
last night. What a glorious treat. Dinner first at The Grove and then we
had unusual behind stage seats to see Monsieur Perine, a group of seven
musicians from Columbia. It was especially fun to look down and watch
the drummers below us and then look out at the audience, most of whom
knew the words to EVERY song. "Diversity is our strength," Ms. Pelosi
said recently and watching all the people of every race and age singing
and dancing to this eclectic and energetic music was beyond wonderful.

talking travel

Yesterday I made airplane reservations for a September trip to visit our
old friend Eddie who lives in Roswell, Georgia. We will go to a Giants
game (!) and take some day trips. Even though we were in Atlanta once
years ago, it is a whole new and different world for me. Eddie has a home
with a separate apartment so I won't have to worry about hotels or
transportation. Politics? Well, that is a whole different set of concerns.
I might have to keep quiet. Oh.

currently reading...

A little murder mystery to clear the head. Bury Your Dead takes
place in Quebec so I tell myself I'm learning something about
that city where I would like to go. Someday.

Mexican dinner with the Italian guy

Carlini is back from Philly and last night we had dinner here at Don
Ramon's where he used to work and party. We always get extra food
and great service because my date is sort of a celebrity. Sort of...

still tossing (donating)

This took awhile. More than a year. Husbando loved his hats and these
were only a few of his collection. The young man at my Salvation Army
drop-off place was ecstatic last week when he looked in the bag. Hats!
Forever we used the dumb expression, "Here's your hat, what's your
hurry?" and it still applies. In grief group I learned this very handy trick
when cleaning out our loved one's possessions ~ we should photograph
these things for our memory stash and then give them up for others to use.

the infamous Kit Kat Klub

This seems so much more relevant today, so piercing, really. Cabaret
is that ultimate musical that makes us laugh and smile our way into
reality and sorrow. The cast was terrific ~ music, dancing, costumes
and setting ~ all excellent. But it is the story that hits so hard, simply
because it is based on the truth. History. This will be at the SF Playhouse
now through September 14, do not miss it. Welcome to Berlin in the 30's.

the park has reopened

Pat and I climbed on different buses to meet at Salesforce Park yesterday
and what a delight it was to walk around and try to figure out the many
different plants which have grown so much since last I was here in
September. There were huge construction issues involving steel beams
and cracked pavement but we can put those behind us now and just
enjoy the quiet (five floors up) and the great people-watching and all
the buildings and reflections around us. Little tables and chairs abound
and that's always a most welcome addition to any park.

back to Hawkins, Indiana

Stranger Things Season 3 is back. Look how these kids have grown. I can
only take one scary episode a night, but that's OK, it is great fun. On the
Flix®, of course.

LJ Silver and Tom Kha Gai

the Mime Troupe rehearses

celebrate the USA with Thai soup ~ yes!

I had a wonderful 4th yesterday, thanks to the Great Plotniks. Because
Doug is a reviewer we had reserved seats in the second "row" to see the
Mime Troupe in one of their best ever musicals entitled Treasure Island 
down in Dolores Park. We took the J car to/fro ~ all very urban and
fun. The story was a true one, at least to us aging SF liberals. The
pirate developers, led my LJ Silver, are always searching for the gold
in our city ~ pushing out the hard working folks who can't afford the
sky high rents or home prices. Afterwards I was going to rush home
to my neglected (her opinion) cat but Doug was cooking Tom Kha
Gai coconut milk chicken soup and I could not resist the luscious
smell and so I stayed for a fabulous dinner. A great decision, Ms. Stein.
So thankful to our friends for this fine 4th.

it's an OK holiday

I can do without tanks in a parade in Washington, DC, but I do have
some nice memories and plan to meet the Great Plotniks later today
in Dolores Park to see the Mime Troupe. Currently I am sitting in
front of the fireplace because it is always foggy on the 4th and I am
so okay with that. Maybe sunshine later, maybe not. Stay safe, do.

two dog day

solo sun sitting before work ~ El Greco Cafe

Rosa on the left, ear of Duca on the right

I spent yesterday dog sitting with Rosa and Duca in Marsha's little art-filled
apartment in North Beach. It was so pleasant and I got a lot of reading done
and I also worked on my computer and iPhone. We three walked and of
course everyone knows these funny Manchester Terriers and then we
had a delicious quiche and another latte for a late lunch, sitting outside
in the heart of North Beach. A rough assignment for sure.

the apostrophe catastrophe

I was surprised to read this from one of my favorite daily emails.

Yes, we can get rid of the damn squiggly mark, in my most

humble opinion. Thoughts?

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

Do you know the name of that Shakespeare comedy about a king 
swearing to avoid contact with women? How do you spell out the 
title of the play? With two apostrophes, one, or none?

Love’s Labour’s Lost
Love’s Labours Lost
Loves Labour’s Lost
Loves Labours Lost

When the play was first published in 1598, it was titled as 
Loues Labors Lost and it has since been published with 
various combinations of apostrophes.^*

Remind me again, is it Mother’s Day, Mothers’ Day, or 
Mothers Day? On second thought, don’t!

Why don’t we just get rid of the apostrophe?

You may be thinking: What? Et tu, Anu? You were supposed 
to be on the other side. I thought you were a defender of the 
purity of language.

OK, let’s look at the exquisite mess that is apostrophe.

A possessive takes an apostrophe (king’s), except when it 
doesn’t. Possessives its, his, hers, ours, yours, and theirs 
don’t employ the apostrophe and the Earth still goes around 
the Sun. Perhaps we should cut a little slack when we see 
someone confusing the words its and it’s. In fact, with an 
apostrophe, it’s can have two possibilities: it isor it has.

As seen in it’s, the “apostrophe s” construction doesn’t 
necessarily mean a possessive. This abbreviation can 
mean any of the following:

is (it’s cold)
has (he’s gone)
us (let’s go)
does (what’s she do?)

A little squiggly mark, and so much trouble. Death to the 
apostrophe! With apostrophe in the discard bin, green
grocers can go back to making sure their stuff (such as, 
potato’s and tomato’s)^** is fresh, little kids can go back 
to rejoicing in the beauty of English spelling (is it height,
hieght, or hyt?), and hiring managers can go back to 
finding some other reason to reject a job application 
(a degree from Harvard is nice, but a resume in Comic Sans?).

What about those of us with black markers in our hands, 
defacing correcting signs and defending the world from 
apostrophe catastrophe, you ask. Well, you’ll have to find 
something more fulfilling and productive in life. Have you 
brushed your cat’s (or cats’ or cats) teeth lately?

Some day this world would be free of metastatic cancers, 
narcissistic con men, and the apostrophe (I can dream, 
can’t I?). Until that happens, it’s my solemn duty to 
advise you that every term featured in A.Word.A.Day 
this week takes an apostrophe.

^*As it happens, Love’s Labour’s Lost is the first instance we know of 

the word “apostrophe” being used to indicate the omission of a letter. 

By the way, this is also the play that features the longest word Shakespeare

ever used.

**But, but, but, if we get rid of the apostrophe, we’d lose the distinction 

between a possessive and a plural! Well, I have two things to say here:

1. In the beginning an apostrophe was used simply to indicate the 
2. omission of a letter (o’er for over). So tomato’s was a perfectly 
3. fine way to write the plural of that vegetable/fruit. The spelling 
4. tomato’s indicated that the letter e was omitted.
5. We still use the apostrophe to indicate a plural in some cases. 
6. For example: How many i’s are in the word “distinction”?

busy city Sunday

I spent a bit too much time waiting for buses yesterday because they had
been re-routed (bus talk) to take care of all the Pride Parade People and
traffic around Market Street was a mess. But it was still a beautiful day
and the ballgame was terrific and we won. Now what? Yes, we won! My
date yesterday was Marsha and we had a fine time.